Selective operator apparatus



July 14, 1959- E. F. MEKELBURG 2,895,021

' SELECTIVR OPERATOR APPARATUS Filed Dee. :51, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENToRL if@ my /ir/l/fxa uw July 14, 1959 Y E. F. M EKELBURG 2,895,021

sELRcTrvE OPERATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ha f/WfA/[za nited States Patent O f SELECTIV E OPERATOR `APPARATUS Earl F. Mekelburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., assigner to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,654

Claims. (Cl. 200-5) The present invention relates to selective operator apparatus and more particularly to selective operator apparatus having a selectively positionable control member for actuating operators.

In general, the prior art sets forth apparatus which requires selection of operators which are individual to the units to be actuated. As an example: the pushbutton operator for switches is limited to actuation or tie-actuation of a single switch unit. In some instances two more pushbuttons may be coupled whereby operation of one pushbutton de-actuates another. A coupling mechanism would therefore be required between pushbuttons so coupled. Other disadvantages of foregoing prior art apparatus arise as the result of volume, panel board area required, selective and guarded operation, and liquid or other sealing for each operator projecting outside of an enclosure.

ln order to avoid these and other problems and correct the above noted deficiencies in addition to others, the present invention is directed to a selective operator having a control member which may be positioned to selectively engage operating elements arranged about the control member. The control member is moved selectively in any of a number of predetermined positions. An individual operator is provided for each position and the control member engages the selected operating element by following a predetermined path for each position causing the element to be operated actuating a switch unit or the like positioned adjacent thereto. Assuming that a switch unit includes biasing means for return movement to de-activated position, the selective operator may be restored by the control member including restoration means positively returning the operating element to a de-activated position. An additional selective feature has been provided by a guarded latching means in the control member cooperating with bars, blocking the control member from predetermined paths or positions.

The present invention therefore provides means for actuating one or more operators each of which operate individual switching units requiring much less space and panel area, selective and guarded operation and simplied sealing of one unit for one or more operators. An object therefore of the present invention is the provision of a selective operator having one or more of the foregoing features and advantages.

Another object is to provide a latch which is readily accessible for operation but guarding against accidental or unintentional operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a control for simplifying the selective actuation of operators.

Still another object is to provide a selective operator for restoring an actuated operator prior to selective actuation of another operator.

A further object is the provision of momentary maintained actuation of an operator in selective operator apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 2,895,021 Patented July 14, i959 a single control to simplify the selective actuation of one or more switch operators.

Further objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Fig. l is a cross sectional projection of the preferred embodiment of the selective switch operator showing the shaft and universal bearing arrangement in detail wherein a portion of a lever has been eliminated to enable a side view of the adjacent lever assemblage to be shown.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the selective switch operator showing the guide plate taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l and the positions of the lever assemblages on the frame.

Fig. 3 is a pictorial projection of the bottom of the selective switch operator with the guide plate and other parts removed to show the frame and lever assembly construction.

Fig. 4 is a bottom View taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. l rotated with the guide plate removed and showing the lever assemblies and latch bars.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional View of the toggle arrangement of the lever assembly and a portion of the selective switch operator frame.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the knob illustrated in Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. l, illustrating a preferred embodiment, a selective switch operator including a frame 12 and a housing 12a. for universal coupling of the control shaft and frame. The opening at the upper end of the housing is closed off or sealed by a boot or diaphragm 13 seating under an inwardly projecting lip formed at the top of the housing 12a along the inner periphery and in the undercut portion of the control member or shaft 23 seating against the shaft abutment 33 projecting laterally intermediate the ends of the undercut portion of the shaft.

The selective switch operator may be mounted in a panel wall 16 in a suitable opening provided to accommodate the housing 12a seating along the outer periphery of the housing adjacent to the raised surface 17 and separated therefrom by a gasket l5 to provide an oiltight seal along the edges of the opening in the panel wall by means of a ring nut threading on the outer periphery of the housing 12a and abutting the outside surface of the panel wall adjacent the housing.

A suitable bore is provided in the raised surface 17 to retain the shank of the dowel 1S having a head projecting through the opening in the gasket i5 and into a bore in the panel wall 16 to index the selective switch operator and prevent rotation thereof. The universal bearing includes a bearing socket Ztl located along the inner periphery of the housing 12a between the outer edge of the boot 13 and an internal retainer ring or washer 19 which is seated in an internal groove about the inner periphery of the housing. The upper surface of the bearing 2G presses against the outer edge of the boot 13 to provide an oiltight seal between the lip and boot.

On the lower surface of the frame lying in a horizontal plane, a pair of perforated hinge blocks or abutments 24 are provided for pivotally mounting each operator or lever assembly 21. ln the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the drawings, four lever assemblies have been illustrated located in individual quadrants about the center opening of the frame or the control shaft 23. The lever 2S of each assembly is mounted for pivoting on the hinge blocks 24 by a pin 26 which is held in position by a retainer ring 27 seated in a suitable peripheral groove near the end of the pin.

assigner As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the frame further includes four corner posts 2S, 28a, 28k and 28e, providing lateral support for clevises 48 on a side extension and support the guide plate 29 on the main portion thereof. The guide plate 29 may be secured to the corner posts by screws or other suitable means having a shank securing the bores of the corner posts 28. The guide plate 29 further serves as support for the Contact blocks of the switching units 50, 50a, Silb and 50c, wherein the stems or plungers 52, 52a, 53, 53a, etc., project through slots or pass outside the guide plate for engagement with the actuating arms 47 of the lever or operator assemblies 21. Suitably placed bores in the guide plate 29 engage screws or other fastening means for securing the switch units to the guide plate as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the shaft or handle construction of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in Fig. l., it is seen that the shaft 23 is hollow and has varying inner diameters to accommodate the releasing. mechanism including a release pin or shaft 30 having a larger diameter head projecting into the recessed portion of the knob 23a and an undercut lower portion extending through coil spring 32 to the shaft journal 22. A cross pin 37 slidable in the shaft slots rigidly couples the bearing sleeve 36 to the release pin Si) and the release pin 3th is normally biased by the spring 32 to position the side of the bearing sleeve 36 against the sides of the latch bars 34 and 34a. With the release pin 30 and bearing sleeve 36 in the position as shown in Fig. l, the control shaft 23 is prevented from moving in a path blocked by the latch bar; however, upon pushing the release pin 30 against the bias of the coil spring 32, the release pin and bearing sleeve 36 are moved downwardly, whereby the end of the shaft may be moved laterally in directions past a latch bar as determined by the indexing slots of the guide plate 29.

The lower lever actuating portion of the shaft 23 engages the lever arms 61, 61a, llb, or 61e to actuate the operator or lever assemblies 2l. The indexing slots 58 in the guide plate 29 cooperate with the stud 3S having a threaded shank portion secured into the end of the control shaft 2.3 to determine the directions of lateral motion of the control shaft. rlfhe stud 38 may include a hexagonal iiange intermediate its ends for threading the shank in the shaft bore thereby securing the lever restoring plate 39 to the control shaft 23 and a lock washer between the head and the restoring plate.

The upper end of the control shaft 23 is threaded to engage the tapped bores in knobs 23a or 23h. The knob 23a is recessed to provide access to the head of the release pin 30 wherein the outer edges extend past the end of the release pin to protect the pin from accidental operation. The knob 23h shown in Pig. 6, is substituted for knob 23a to prevent actuation of the release pin 3l) thereby preventing operating of lever assemblies 2l guarded by the latch bars or, depending upon the depth of the bore in the knob may be used to maintain the release pin operated as shown in dotted lines whereby the control shaft may be positioned in any of the indexing slots 58 to selectively actuate any of the lever assemblies 2i.. The knob 23h may include a bore 0f sufiicient depth to accommodate the release pin 30 and be threaded completely on the shaft 23 without operating the release pin.

The lever assemblies 21 are more clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 wherein it is seen they include a lever member 25 having the general coniiguration of a channel member which is pivotal'ly secured to the perforated abutments 2.4 by pins 26 retained by split rings 27 in peripheral grooves of the pins. As shown in the preferred embodiment, a portion of the lever, particularly along the vertical sides adjacent the pin 26, is extended for rigidity and the frame which may be die cast, includes a recessed area for accommodating the extended por- ,4 tion. At the opposite ends of the vertical sides of the lever 2S, a slight projection may be provided for stop abutments which engage the lower surface of the frame to position the lever in its normal inactuated position. Along corresponding vertical edges of the lever adjacent the stop abutments, slots 45 and 46 in each edge, alternatively seat the pin 44 wherein slots 45 and 46 provide momentary and maintain actuation of the lever for a purpose which will be described later on in connection with the remainder of the assembly.

The opposite vertical side of the lever 25 includes a projection extending past the bot-tom of the channel to cooperate with the restoring plate 39 to positively restore the lever Z5 when the operating shaft is moved to its normal vertical position. As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the bottom of the channel of the lever ZS is extended at one end to secure a lever arm 61 by means of rivets or the like whereby the lever is placed in the path of the shaft 23 as determined by the indexing slots 58 in the guide path 29. The lever arm projects laterally and vertically from the bottom of the channel towards the actuating end of the control shaft 23 whereby a maximum lever arm within the space limitations is provided between the pivoting axis of the shaft and the end of the lever arm 61.

At the opposite end of the lever 25 from which the lever arms 61 extend, a pair of prongs 47, 47 project from the bottom of the channel to provide actuating arms for the switch units associated with the indivdual lever operator assemblies 21, 21a, 2lb, and Zic. As shown in Fig. l, the actuating arms 47, 47 extend upwardly in the position shown in order to provide a ilat surface against the stems of the switch units when the lever is in an actuated position. In order to provide adequate clearance for the guide pin and spring, the inner edges may be cut to produce a champfer.

The lever Z5 in combination with the guide pin or rod forms a toggle wherein a pin 44 fitted in the slot of the guide pin in the corresponding pair of notches or slots in the sides of the lever provides a toggle joint. Compressible coil spring 42 placed around the periphery of the guide rod 4@ abuts the pins 43 and 44 at the respective end portions to bias the pin 44 to the end of the slot in the guide rod. The clevis `48 is fastened to the corner post by a screw 49 which is threaded into a tapped bore in the cross member of the clevis 4S. A suitable counterbore nay be provided in the frame 12 to place the head of he screw 43 below the top surface of the frame and the corner post is recessed at 59 to provide sufficient clearance for the guide pin 40.

Referring now to the selective switch operator as shown in Fig. 4, the positioning of the latch bars 34 can be clearly seen and also the channels in the frame casting for accommodating the latch bars. In the bottom of the channels 60 a tapped bore 62, is provided which may be aligned with a similar tapped bore in the latch bar for securing the latch bar in the channel by a screw or dowel preferably inserted from the top surface of the frame 12.

The outer periphery of the control shaft between the knob 23a and the housing 12a may be knurled to prevent rotation of the shaft upon gripping when threading the stud 38 in the shaft or the knobs on the handle end of the control shaft.

Operation which are guarded FOIII the shaft by latch bars 34 cannot be accidentally operated by manipulation of the control shaft.

To prepare for operation of the operator or lever assemblies 21 guarded by the latch bar, the release pin must be intentionally operated by pressing or forcing the head down against the bias of the compressible coil spring 32 causing the bearing sleeve 36 to pass below the latch bars 34. Since the bearing sleeve 36 is coupled to the release pin 30 by the cross bar 37, downward movement of the release pin Sil moves the cross pin 37 down in the Vertical side slots in the control shaft 23 causing the bearing sleeve to slide along the peripheral surface of the shaft.

Assuming that the release pin has been operated in the event a latch bar 34 prevents the shaft from moving along a selected indexing slot 53, the bearing surface adjacent the lever arm 61 of the lever assembly is subject to the force exerted at the opposite end of the control shaft causing the lever to pivot about its axis against the force exerted by the compressible spring i2 in the toggle joint. The stud 3S at the end of the control shaft can be positioned in the end of the indexing slot which may act as end stop abutment for the shaft for complete actuation of the lever assembly, whereupon the lever prongs 47 force the switch stems or plungers down to actuate one or more contacts in the switching unit 50.

Upon operation of the lever operator assembly 2l, depending upon the position of the pin 44 in slots 45 or 46, the toggle will either approach or pass its center' line wherein Fig. l ilustrates the toggle cross pin position for approaching the center line for momentary switch actuation or switch actuation as long as the control shaft 23 is held in the respective actuated position against the force of the toggle spring 4Z; overcenter operation of the toggle may be provided by placing the cross pin 44 in the slot 46 as shown in Fig. 5.

Maintained operation of the lever assembly or overcenter operation of the toggle is produced upon operation of an assembly 21 having the cross pin 44 in slot 46. The lever assembly 2l will remain actuated as long as the operating shaft is not forced back to a vertical center position, since the orce of the toggle spring must be overcome by a counter force on the shaft and applied to the lever by the restoring plate 39. Normally the spring bias on the switch stems or plungers is insutiicient to overcome the force of the toggle spring L; however, the switch units 50 may act as a stop for the lever and provide a limit of travel in the operated position. if no other abutment or stop is provided for the lever in its actuated or operated position the restoring projection Sl. of the lever will engage the restoring plate to provide maximum travel of the lever for momentary or maintained operation.

As set forth above in relation to maintained operation of the contact assemblies, it should be noted that once the control shaft is positioned for actuation of a lever assembly 21 having a toggle traveling overcenter to maintain the assembly in actuated position, the release pin need not be pressed down in the knob since the shoulder of the bearing sleeve 36 adjacent the shaft seats under the edge of the latch bar to retain the release pin in operated position against the force of the compressed coil spring 32. The release pin therefore will not act to restore the shaft to its vertical center position when operating a lever assembly 2l guarded by a latch bar and the operation of the assembly will he uniform throughout except for the features particularly set forth above for selective operation.

ln order to restore the selective switch operator to its inoperative condition or changing from operation of one lever assembly to another, a return force is exerted on the shaft to restore it to its vertical center position through which position it must travel before actuating another lever assembly. Upon returning the shaft to the center position the restoring plate 39 will engage the projection 21 to provide positive return of the lever 2S to its inactuated position whereupon plungers or switch stems 52 will return to the position shown in Fig. 1 by the action of a spring or other means tending to maintain the plunger in the up position. Although the restoring plate does not follow the projection 51 to its restored position it does force it past the overcenter position of the toggle whereupon the toggle spring 42 returns the lever 25 to its inactuated position where the stop abutment 41 engages the frame. The restoring plate therefore assures return of the lever assemblies 2li before operation of another lever assembly for selective operation of only one lever operator assembly at a time.

The switch units 5t? may be either single .pole having a single actuating stem or two single pole double throw mechanisms in one assembly. The separate operating stems function as a double pole unit when the block is used with a lever lassembly having two prongs actuating both stems simultaneously. Although the selective operator apparatus is particularly useful in operating switches of the type shown in Fig. l, they are intended to be exemplary and not to limit the scope of the selective operator apparatus which may be used to operate other switches or apparatus in the manner described.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

l. A selective operator for actuating switches having rectilinearly movable actuators comprising; a control member, an operator assembly and means including a base for mounting said member vertically to said base for lateral movement along predetermined paths and for pivotally mounting said operator assembly on said base laterally adjacent said control member whereby selective lateral movement of said member engages said assembly for actuation, said operator assembly including a lever spaced from the path of the operator having vertical sides and bottom forming a channel and a `guide rod, a horizontal pivot for the lever, a cross pin arranged across the ends of the vertical sides of said lever seating in corresponding notches in the vertical `sides of said lever and a slot formed in the end of said guide rod, said lever and guide rod being pivotally mounted at the other ends to form a toggle, a compressible coil spring arranged around said guide rod and compressed between the cross pin and pivot mounting of said guide rod -to bias said toggle, a lever arm projecting laterally from the bottom of said lever into an area immediately adjacent said control member whereby movement of said member in a path actuates said assembly upon engaging said lever arm to pivot the lever and guide bar toward dead center of the toggle and compressing said spring.

2. ln a device of the character described, the combination comprising; a base, at least one switch mounted on the base, said switch having a switch actuator rectilinear ly movable in a direction normal to the base, an operating lever pivotly mounted to the base and movable in response to manual force on the pivot from a position normal to the base in a predetermined path relative to the base, and an actuator horizontally pivotally mounted on the base having a portion in engagement with the lever and arranged to be moved by the lever in a direction having a component parallel to the base and having a portion movable in a direction normal to the base when the first portion is moved by the lever, said second portion being arranged to engage, move and actuate the switch lactuator in response to the pivotal movement of the lever on the base, and adjustable means for selectively maintaining the actuator in either one of two positions when the operating lever is moved from the normal position and the manual force is released.

3. In a device `of `the character described, the combination comprising; a base, at least one switch mounted on the base, `said switch having an actuator rectilinearly movable in a direction normal to the base when the switch is mounted on the base, an `operating lever pivotally mounted on the base and movable in response to a manual force on the pivot from a normal position wherein the lever is normal to the base in a predeter mined path to a position wherein the lever is inclined relative to the base, a lever pivotally mounted on the base on an axis parallel to the base, -said lever having a portion extending normal to the axis arranged to engage and move the switch actuator and a portion extending parallel to the axis yarranged to engage and be moved by the lever whereby the `switch is actuated when the lever is moved in the predetermined path to the inclined position, and adjustable toggle means for maintaining the second lever in either one of `two positions when the manual force is removed from the rst lever.

4. ln a device of the character described, the combination comprising; a base, a switch mounted on the base, said switch having an actuator movable in a direction normal to Ithe base when the switch is mounted on the base, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the base and movable from a position normal to the base in a predetermined path to a position wherein the lever is inclined relative to the base, a movable actuating lever pivotally mounted on the base arranged to actuate the switch actuator in response to movement of the operating lever, and lever means positioned between the base and actuating lever arranged to be selectively positioned for selectively causing the actuating lever to be moved with and without a snap action in response to said movements of the operating lever.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the operating lever is provided with a locking means.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein a plurality of actuating levers with horizontally disposed pivots are quadrantially arranged and laterally spaced from the operating lever.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the actuating lever is provided with a toggle action.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the operating lever has a means thereon for moving the actuating lever into a normal position after the operator has moved the actuating lever to actuate the lever about a horizontal pivot.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising; a base, a switch mounted on the base, said switch having an actuator movable in a direction normal to the base, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the base and movable thereon from a position wherein lthe lever is normal to the base in a predetermined path to a position wherein the lever is inclined to the base, a movable actuating lever pivotally mounted on the base and arranged to actuate the switch actuator in response to the movements of the operating lever, and means selec tively positionable for selectively causing the actuating lever to move with and without a snap action in response to movements of the operating lever.

l0. ln a device of the character described, the combination comprising; a base, a switch mounted on the base, said switch having an actuator movable normal to the base, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the base and pivotally movable on the base from a normal position wherein the lever extends normal to the base to a second position wherein the lever is inclined relative to the base, and an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the base and having portions engageable with the operating lever and switch actuator for moving the switch actuator in response to movements of ythe operating lever, and a lever means pivoted on the actuating lever and on the base for selectively causing the actuating lever to move the switch actuator with and without a snap action.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,806 Buchannan Dec. 26, 1911 1,865,697 Karrar July 5, 1932 1,954,272 Taylor Apr. 10, 1934 2,227,350 Kight Dee. 31, 1940 2,255,552 Bluemle et al Sept. 9, 1941 2,374,868 Krieger May 1, 1945 2,383,546 Hallander Aug. 28, 1945 2,723,571 Koenig Nov. l5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,810 Switzerland Ian. 16, 1939 457,398 Canada June 14, 1949 667,959 Germany Nov. 23, 1938 

